Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

the globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits

Earth(noun)

the solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land

Earth(noun)

the softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth

Earth(noun)

a part of this globe; a region; a country; land

Earth(noun)

worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life

a similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta

Earth(noun)

a hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox

Earth(verb)

to hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den

Earth(verb)

to cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with up

Earth(verb)

to burrow

Earth(noun)

a plowing

Origin: [From Ear to plow.]

Freebase(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets. It is sometimes referred to as the world or the Blue Planet.
Earth formed approximately 4.54 billion years ago, and life appeared on its surface within its first billion years. Earth's biosphere then significantly altered the atmospheric and other basic physical conditions, which enabled the proliferation of organisms as well as the formation of the ozone layer, which together with Earth's magnetic field blocked harmful solar radiation, and permitted formerly ocean-confined life to move safely to land. The physical properties of the Earth, as well as its geological history and orbit, have allowed life to persist. Estimates on how much longer the planet will be able to continue to support life range from 500 million years, to as long as 2.3 billion years.
Earth's lithosphere is divided into several rigid segments, or tectonic plates, that migrate across the surface over periods of many millions of years. About 71% of the surface is covered by salt water oceans, with the remainder consisting of continents and islands which together have many lakes and other sources of water that contribute to the hydrosphere. Earth's poles are mostly covered with ice that is the solid ice of the Antarctic ice sheet and the sea ice that is the polar ice packs. The planet's interior remains active, with a solid iron inner core, a liquid outer core that generates the magnetic field, and a thick layer of relatively solid mantle.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Earth

ėrth, n. the name applied to the third planet in order from the sun: the matter on the surface of the globe: soil: dry land, as opposed to sea: the world: the inhabitants of the world: dirt: dead matter: the human body: a fox's hole: (pl.) the name applied by the alchemists and earlier chemists to certain substances now known to be oxides of metal, which were distinguished by being infusible, and by insolubility in water.—v.t. to hide or cause to hide in the earth: to bury.—v.i. to burrow: to hide.—ns.Earth′-bag, a sack of earth used in fortifications; Earth′-bath, a bath of earth or mud; Earth′-board, the board of a plough, or other implement, that turns over the earth.—adjs.Earth′-born, born from or on the earth; Earth′-bound, bound or held by the earth, as a tree; Earth′-bred, mean, grovelling.—n.Earth′-clos′et, a system consisting of the application of earth to the deodorisation of fæcal matters.—adjs.Earth′-creā′ted, made of earth; Earth′en, made of earth or clay: earthly.—ns.Earth′enware, crockery; Earth′-fall, a landslide.—adj.Earth′-fed, contented with earthly things.—ns.Earth′flax, asbestos; Earth′-hog (see Aardvark); Earth′-house, the name given to the ancient underground dwellings in Ireland and Scotland, also called Picts' houses; Earth′-hung′er, the passion for acquiring land; Earth′iness; Earth′liness; Earth′ling, a dweller on the earth.—adjs.Earth′ly, belonging to the earth: vile: worldly; Earth′ly-mind′ed, having the mind intent on earthly things.—ns.Earth′ly-mind′edness; Earth′-nut, the popular name of certain tuberous roots growing underground; Earth′-pea, the hog-peanut; Earth′-plate, a buried plate of metal forming the earth-connection of a telegraph-wire, lightning-conductor, &c.; Earth′quake, a quaking or shaking of the earth: a heaving of the ground; Earth′-shine, the faint light visible on the part of the moon not illuminated by the sun; Earth′-trem′or, a slight earthquake.—adv.Earth′ward, toward the earth.—ns.Earth′work, a fortification of earth; Earth′-worm, the common worm: a mean person, a poor creature.—adj.Earth′y, consisting of, relating to, or resembling earth: inhabiting the earth: gross: unrefined. [A.S. eorthe; cf. Dut. aarde, Ger. erde.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

earth

1. A small bean-shaped planet, full of noise, nonsense and noddies, created in order to swell the pockets of politicians. 2. A blister produced by the constant abrasion of motion against space.

(a) The earth is arbitrarily taken as of zero electrostatic potential. Surfaces in such condition that their potential is unchanged when connected to the earth are said to be of zero potential. All other surfaces are discharged when connected to the earth, whose potential, for the purposes of man at least, never changes. (b) As a magnetic field of force the intensity of the earth's field is about one-half a line of force per square centimeter. (c) The accidental grounding of a telegraph line is termed an earth, as a dead, total, partial, or intermittent earth, describing the extent and character of the trouble. [Transcriber's note: Fallen power lines can produce voltage gradients on the earth's surface that make walking in the area dangerous, as in hundreds of volts per foot. Lightning may be associated with substantial changes in the static ground potential.]